Winter 2009-2010 Climate Summary

Bismarck

Temperatures for the 2009-10 winter season (defined as the months of December-January-February) at the Bismarck airport averaged 10.1 degrees, which was 4.4 degrees below the 1971 to 2000 climatological average. This past winter was slightly warmer than last year, when the average seasonal temperature was 9.7 degrees. Overall, the winter of 2009-10 will go down in the books as being tied with the winter of 1878-79 for the 45th coldest on record. This occurred in spite of the fact that during the month of January temperatures were near average. The months of December and February were the coldest months of the winter season. They were 4.7 and 7.6 degrees below average, respectively. The most interesting statistic during the season was the fact that temperatures in February never broke the freezing mark (32 degrees Fahrenheit). The last and only other time in the 136 years worth of records this happened was in February of 1936.

During the winter season, the temperature ranged from a modest 45 degrees on the 16th of January to a bone chilling -33 degrees on the 8th of January. As you can see from the summary below, the maximum temperatures produced the largest deviation from average (6.9 degrees below verses only 1.7 degrees below for minimum temperatures). This fact can really be seen when looking at the total number of days in which the maximum daily temperature remained at or below freezing (32 degrees). This occurred on 81 days during the 90 day season, and was only one day shy of the record of 82 days set during the winters of 1977-1978 and 1978-1979. Lastly, the number of days in which the mercury fell to or below zero occurred on 41 days, which was slightly more than the average of 37 days.

If the cold was not enough, for the second year in a row Bismarck experienced above average snowfall. A total of 45.5 inches was recorded during the December through February period. Last year we had 58 inches setting the record for the most snowfall during this period. Although we did not match the record amounts of last year, this past winter was the 6th snowiest on record. Most of the snow occurred during December, when 19.1 inches fell. However, the months of January and February were not far behind. During these months snowfall totaled 13.8 inches and 12.6 inches, respectively.

...THE BISMARCK ND CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE SEASON, FROM 12/1/2009 TO
2/28/2010...

Temperatures for the 2009-10 winter season (defined as the months of December-January-February) at the Williston airport averaged 9.1 degrees, which was 3.5 degrees below the 1971 to 2000 climatological average. Overall, the winter of 2009-10 will go down in the books as being the 32nd coldest on record. This occurred in spite of the fact that during the month of January temperatures were slightly warmer than average. Conversely, the months of December and February were well below average. They were 7.2 and 6.7 degrees below average, respectively. The most interesting statistic during the season was the fact that temperatures in February never broke the freezing mark (32 degrees Fahrenheit). The last and only other time in the 117 years worth of records this happened was in February of 1897.

During the winter season, the temperature ranged from a modest 39 degrees on three days during January to a bone chilling -32 degrees on the 8th of January. There were a total 82 days during the 90 day season in which temperatures failed to break 32 degrees. This was only one day shy of the record of 83 days set during the winter of 1902-1903. Lastly, the number of days in which the mercury fell to or below zero occurred on 42 days, which was slightly more than the average of 38 days.

If the cold was not enough, for the second year in a row Williston experienced above average snowfall. A total of 28.4 inches was recorded during the December through February period. Last year 59.5 inches was recorded setting the record for the most snowfall during this period. Although we did not match the record amounts of last year, this past winter was tied with the winter season of 1971-1972 as the 11th snowiest on record. The snowiest month was January, when 15.5 inches fell. During the months of January and February snowfall totaled 8.7 inches and 4.2 inches, respectively.

...THE WILLISTON ND CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE SEASON, FROM
12/1/2009 TO 2/28/2010...

Temperatures for the 2009-10 winter season (defined as the months of December-January-February) at the Dickinson airport averaged 10.5 degrees, which was 6.0 degrees below the 1971 to 2000 climatological average. Overall, the winter of 2009-10 will go down in the books as being tied with the winters of 1942-1943, 1965-1966 and1970-1971 for the 30th coldest on record. This occurred in spite of the fact that during the month of January temperatures were near average. Conversely, the months of December and February were well below average. In fact, these two months were rated as the 10th and the 31st coldest on record, respectively.

During the winter season, the temperature ranged from a modest 43 degrees on the first of December to a bone chilling -27 degrees on the 8th of January. There were a total 76 days in which the temperatures failed to break 32 degrees. This was only six days shy of the record of 82 days set during the winter of 1968-1969. Lastly, the number of days in which the mercury fell to or below zero occurred on 40 days, which was slightly more than the average of 37 days.

If the cold was not enough, there was plenty of snow to go with it. . A total of 29.2 inches was recorded during the December through February period. This ranks as the 8th snowiest winter on record. Note that the summary below does not list this information. However, the bottom figure in this section displays the accumulated liquid equivalent precipitation, which is basically the amount of liquid water that would have fallen if the snow had fallen as rain.

...THE DICKINSON ND CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE SEASON, FROM
12/1/2009 TO 2/28/2010...

Temperatures for the 2009-10 winter season (defined as the months of December-January-February) at the Minot airport averaged 10.1 degrees, which was 2.4 degrees below the 1971 to 2000 climatological average. Overall, the winter of 2009-10 will go down in the books as being the 47th coldest on record. This occurred in spite of the fact that during the month of January temperatures were slightly warmer than average. Conversely, the months of December and February were well below average. In fact, these two months were rated as the 25th and the 47th coldest on record, respectively. Additionally, in February temperatures never broke the freezing mark. The last and only other time in the 100+ years worth of records this happened was in February of 1936.

During the winter season, the temperature ranged from a modest 43 degrees on the first of December to a bone chilling -25 degrees on the 8th of January. There were a total 84 days in which the temperatures failed to break 32 degrees. This was only three days shy of the record of 87 days set during the winter of 1935-1936. Lastly, the number of days in which the mercury fell to or below zero occurred on 45 days, which was near the average of 44.

If the cold was not enough, there was plenty of snow to go with it. . A total of 26.1 inches was recorded during the December through February period. This ranks as the 26th snowiest winter on record. Note that the summary below does not list this information. However, the bottom figure in this section displays the accumulated liquid equivalent precipitation, which is basically the amount of liquid water that would have fallen if the snow had fallen as rain.

...THE MINOT ND CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE SEASON, FROM
12/1/2009 TO 2/28/2010...

Temperatures for the 2009-10 winter season (defined as the months of December-January-February) at the Jamestown airport averaged 8.6 degrees, which was 2.8 degrees below the 1971 to 2000 climatological average. Overall, the winter of 2009-10 will go down in the books as being the 34th coldest on record. This occurred in spite of the fact that during the month of January temperatures were near average. Conversely, the months of December and February were well below average. In fact, these two months were rated as the 23rd and the 34th coldest on record, respectively. Additionally, in February temperatures never broke the freezing mark. This has only happened three other times in the 110+ years worth of records.

During the winter season, the temperature ranged from a modest 41 degrees on the first of December to a bone chilling -30 degrees on the 8th of January. There were a total 82 days in which the temperatures failed to break 32 degrees. Lastly, the number of days in which the mercury fell to or below zero occurred on 47 days, which is slightly above the average of 42.

If the cold was not enough, there was plenty of snow to go with it. . A total of 36.1 inches was recorded during the December through February period. This ranks as the 5th snowiest winter on record. Note that the summary below does not list this information. However, the bottom figure in this section displays the accumulated liquid equivalent precipitation, which is basically the amount of liquid water that would have fallen if the snow had fallen as rain.

...THE JAMESTOWN ND CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE SEASON, FROM
12/1/2009 TO 2/28/2010...